Chapter 526: 526: Returning Your Underhanded Tricks Intact_1

Said Mo, then quickly lowered her head.

It sounded as if today, Mrs. Bai was planning on doing something divisive?

Wei Ruo narrowed her eyes and the corner of her mouth lifted in a slight curve. She was somewhat eager to see just how audacious Mrs. Bai would be, and what tricks she would try on her.

Coming into the garden of the Duke Residence, there were two round tables set with dried longan, apricot, tea cakes, and dried sweet potatoes.

After Wei Ruo sat at one table, Wei Qingwan chose the other.

After the two of them were seated, the other ladies chose their seats as well.

Wei Qingwan’s table was full, while Wei Ruo’s was starkly empty. Only she sat there, with no one else daring to join.

Seeing this situation, Mrs. Mo and Mrs. Yun came and sat next to Wei Ruo.

As both of these women were generally quiet, Wei Ruo’s table was silent. This made for a stark contrast to the buzz of conversation at Wei Qingwan’s table.

The servants served everyone jasmine tea. As the tea was brought before Wei Ruo, Mrs. Bai’s gaze followed.

Wei Ruo keenly noticed Mrs. Bai’s stare at her and remembered Mrs. Mo’s early warning, she looked down at her teacup.

Wei Ruo lifted the teacup to her lips, but did not immediately drink.

She first slowly smelled it, then tasted the tea with the tip of her tongue.

There was a very faint medicinal taste in the tea, disguised by the fragrance of jasmine. However, Wei Ruo with her experience in tasting and compounding countless medicines, was able to identify it sharply.

Immediately followed by a smirk from Wei Ruo.

I see.

So, that was it – an old and cheap trick.

With this stuff, the moment it touches her tongue she would know what was going on. Even without Mrs. Mo’s warning, this plan would not have worked on her.

Once she figured out what was going on, Wei Ruo put the teacup back down.

Then Wei Ruo gestured and summoned Lin Fang to her side.

When Lin Fang bent her ear towards her, Wei Ruo whispered a few words, and Lin Fang nodded.

“Don’t worry, miss. I’ll handle this.” Lin Fang confidently replied.

“Thank you, you’ve been very helpful,” said Wei Ruo.

After receiving Wei Ruo’s instructions, Lin Fang retreated.

Wei Ruo continued to sit in her position, leisurely enjoying the scenery around her.

Realising that Wei Ruo did not drink the tea, Mrs. Bai across the table was somewhat anxious.

Mrs. Bai glanced at Wei Qingwan anxiously. She just told Wei Qingwan that she would teach Wei Ruo a lesson, but the plot was not yet unfolding. She was worried that Wei Qingwan would question her plan.

So Mrs. Bai leaned into Wei Qingwan and said softly in her ear, “Please be patient, Your Highness. The good play will start soon.”

Wei Qingwan smiled faintly and responded, “Aunt, you need not do this for me. If your actions were to invoke elder sister’s revenge, I would feel guilty. I do not wish to see this happen. I already know your kindness towards me. There’s no need for you to do such things for me.”

But Mrs. Bai explained: “My queen, don’t say that. I’m doing this smoothly. Once Wei Ruo falls for it, she will be embarrassed to mention it and is unlikely to retaliate. We are all family here, no one will spread word of this outside. Furthermore, I’ve found a scapegoat.”

Wei Qingwan replied softly, “Aunt, I’ll never forget your kindness.”

Mrs. Bai laughed and said, “What are you talking about? We are family. Although you haven’t spent much time at Capital City after growing up, I’ve watched you since you were a child. As I don’t have any daughters of my own, I treat you like my own.”

She planned this with two goals. Firstly, she wants to win over Wei Qingwan’s trust and make her lean completely towards her side. Secondly, she wants to take revenge on Wei Ruo for previous humiliations. You could say it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

Wei Qingwan was moved by Mrs. Bai’s words and actions.

She never expected Mrs. Bai would go this far for her.

This was something her foster mother would never do.

As Mrs. Bai was talking to Wei Qingwan, she kept an eye on Wei Ruo to see if the poison had taken effect. After a while of waiting, Wei Ruo was still sitting quietly, not tasting the tea or the cakes.

After a moment of silent thought, Mrs. Bai finally couldn’t bear it any longer and approached Wei Ruo.

“Queen Rui, I would like to offer you this drink as a toast,” Mrs. Bai said.

“Oh? Why is my aunt honoring me with a toast?” Wei Ruo asked, her lips curling slightly into a smile, her gaze bright and sharp.

“Queen Rui, you are not only noble in your position but also very industrious. You have a lot of work to do both at home and in the court, one could say it’s a million tasks a day. Your visit is a great honor for all of us in the Wei Family,” Mrs. Bai quickly replied.

Wei Ruo smiled faintly, “My aunt makes valid points.”

After she spoke, Wei Ruo picked up her teacup and drank it all down in one gulp.

Seeing Wei Ruo drink the tea, Mrs. Bai was elated. “If your majesty needs anything else, please let me know. I’ll return to my seat first.”

Wei Ruo smiled faintly, “You may.”

Returning to Wei Qingwan’s side, Mrs. Bai shared enthusiastically, “Now, Your Highness, just wait and enjoy the show!”

“Sure.” Wei Qingwan responded, picked up her tea and took a sip.

Seeing Wei Qingwan’s tea running low, a maid hurriedly came forward with a teapot to refill it.

Everyone else continued to enjoy the garden, sipping tea and chatting.

Occasionally, the other women would come forward to make flattering toasts to Wei Qingwan with tea, to which she would always respond with polite grace, endearing herself to everyone in attendance.

After a while, Mrs. Bai began frequently glancing at Wei Ruo, wondering why the poison hadn’t taken effect yet.

But at the same moment, Wei Qingwan, who was beside her, suddenly looked unwell and said, “What’s happening? Why do I feel so uncomfortable…”

Mrs. Bai looked up and saw that Wei Qingwan’s face was flushed with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

Mrs. Bai was shocked, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Wei Qingwan was also puzzled, “I feel hot and weak, and there’s a… an indescribable feeling.”

Wei Qingwan didn’t know how to describe the feeling, only that the discomfort made her blush.

Mrs. Bai panicked, “How could it be? This isn’t what I gave to Wei…”

Mrs. Bai looked towards Wei Ruo, only to find her sitting leisurely in her seat, showing no signs of discomfort at all.

She didn’t know what had happened, but from what she could see, the poison she meant for Wei Ruo had been drunk by Wei Qingwan!

Mrs. Bai was extremely anxious and didn’t know what to do.

Seeing Wei Qingwan becoming unwell, the others came forward in a flurry of concern.

Mrs. Yun quickly rose and walked over, “Do you feel unwell? Help the Queen to Yifang Pavilion to rest, and call for the doctor.”

Yifang Pavilion was the nearest chamber to them.

“No!” Mrs. Bai quickly intervened.